Do I tip small caterer owner & bartender? How much to tip?

9 years ago

We're hiring a caterer for a 20 people cocktail party with 5 bite-size hot appetizers (sliders, skewers, etc.) and desserts (mini cup cakes, mini pastries, etc.), and a bartender making 4 signature drinks for 4 hours inside our home in Los Angeles suburbs. It's a super casual party (think jeans and t-shirts) with our friends sit and eat wherever inside our house as they mingle. Some men may show up in shorts.

The food bill is $500: Including set up food on our kitchen counters, warming trays, disposable plates and forks, but no tables or linens, no chairs, no decorations. One guy (the owner) brings food and sets up warming trays, and may need to use our kitchen lightly as needed.

The bar bill is $200: The owner will bring a bartender at $25/hour for 4 hours, plus $100 for all ingredients, alcohol, and tools to make 4 signature cocktails. We'll supply ice, water, and whatever beer, wine, and other alcohol we already have. The bartender will set up inside our house and make drinks as requested by our guests.

Both the owner and the bartender will clean up and remove warming trays at the end of the 4 hours. There are no tax or tip on the contract. We don't want a tip jar from the bartender because we don't want our guest to spend money. We've never hired a caterer or bartender before and have no idea what/how to tip.

MY QUESTIONS:

1. Do we tip the owner? If so, how much? Or a % based on the $500 bill?

2. We will definitely tip the bartender. How much? Or a % based on the $200 bill?

3. Is this a fair quote? If not, how much should it have been?

Thank you in advance.

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Comments (4)

gellchom
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I wouldn't tip the owner, but I would tip the bartender and any wait staff. What is the usual tipping rate where you are -- 15%? 20%? You can do that, based on the $100 service fee. So maybe $20-25.

Absolutely, positively, no tip jar -- don't spoil your lovely party that way. You shouldn't have to tell them not to put one out, but I'd do it anyway (tell the owner, not the bartender). And if they do anyway (this happened to our good friends at their daughter's wedding at a fancy hotel, despite the staff having been repeatedly told by the hosts and the coordinator not to, so don't count on them knowing better), or you see them accepting tips from your guests, I'd seriously consider not tipping them anything or using them again!

Whether this is a fair quote or not, I can't say -- I don't know what you're serving or what is typical in your area -- but it sounds reasonable to me.
maxima9 thanked gellchom
lindac92
9 years ago
Cost sounds huge to me!!...I would guess the "owner" has built in his own tip!
I would tip the bartender $25.
$500 for cocktail munchies and dessert for 20 is $25 per person...including serving equipment, prep and clean up....maybe not so huge...
I would offer the owner $100....as a tip. It's usual not to tip the owner....but, if he's a gentleman he will refuse your tip.
If there is other staff there....then of course tip them>
And I also have experienced inappropriate tip jars. My son had a huge party, and the bar tender put a jar on the counter. He removed it and said "these people are my guests, they are not to pay for their drink service"....and I am guessing her tip was diminished by 1/4th!!
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Anne
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I think the prices sound pretty good. I am in the DMV though and things are more expensive here and I imagine the LA burbs are comparable if not a little pricier.

Having said that most parties I have or attend are fairly casual with the occasional work associated or wedding that is more high end. I have never seen a tip jar at any catered party I have attended. At open bar weddings I do normally tip. Last wedding we attended at the beginning of the evening I tipped each of the two bartenders 20 dollars each. It probably covered the cost of my & DH's drinks by far. They didn't have a jar out.

I have been at parties at a home or at a "country" club where there was a sign that said, No tips, you are here as our guests. I would presume in that case the party hosts had taken care of the servers. I don't know what is proper etiquette as far as that type of sign.

I don't know about tipping the owner but I probably would. I have the same dilemma with my hairstylist who owns the salon. I tip her and give her gifts for holiday's and her birthday.

I personally would give the bartender 50 dollars and the owner 100 with the request he share it with anyone who helped prep the food or did set up and clean up if they had additional help. I understand you don't know if he will but that is on him and how he sleeps at night.
maxima9
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks everyone. It was just the owner that set up and the bartender. No one else. Thanks again.